AROUND TOWN: GRANT PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL

June 12, 2012

by Dan Kang, SNSPost

I’m sure you’re noticing all these summer festivals popping up everywhere recently. It’s because the city of Chicago continues to provide great opportunities for us! This time, as the Chicago Blues Festival fades out, the city opens the Grant Park Music Festival on Wednesday, June 13th. This FREE, 78th annual, three-month long classical music festival will be held at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Yes, the Grant Park Music Festival takes place in Millennium Park. Shows take place almost every Wednesday and Saturday, along with the occasional Friday night performance.

Seating for all performances is general admission for both the seats and the lawn. If you want a seat, get there 90 minutes early, as they go fast. If the lawn is more your thing, food and drink are allowed.

Artistic director and principal conductor Carlos Kalmar and the Grant Park Orchestra open the 2012 season with masterpieces by Elgar and Dvořák, joined by Festival favorite, German cellist Alban Gerhardt. The festivities begin promptly at 6:30 p.m.